Britain cause hockey upset

Britain's hockey team celebratesvictory over Germany

Great Britain produced one of the major shocks of the Olympic hockey tournament by beating Germany.

The 2-1 win sent the European champions crashing out of the competition and put the Dutch, who were overwhelmed by Pakistan earlier in the day, into the semi-finals instead.

And in another shock later on Tuesday, India went out because they drew with Poland.

The Germans, who needed only a draw to join Pakistan in the last four from group B, found their match in a British side determined to bow out on a high note.

Britain finishes fourth in the group with five points and will now play-off for the 5-8 positions. If they finish among the top six they will qualify for the next Champions Trophy.

Little impact

Britain, who have had a disappointing time in Sydney, won thanks to a penalty corner goal five minutes from time by Calum Giles, a corner specialist who was brought off the bench in the closing stages.

Britain made little impact in the first half, with Germany dominating, but they emerged transformed after the restart.

Driving rain failed to dampen their spirits, and they were back on level terms within four minutes of Tom Bertram deflecting in Christian Mayerhoffer's shot two minutes after the turnaround.

---

Pakistan 2-0 Holland

Pakistan's players fell to the ground and kissed the turf after overwhelming Olympic champions Holland to earn a place in the semi-finals.

Pakistan needed to win to progress after scoring only one other victory, against Great Britain, so far in the Games.

Sohail Abbas, the world's finest exponent of the penalty corner, gave Pakistan the lead in the 22nd minute with a blistering drag flick and Kashif Javad finished the game off three minutes from full-time.

Pakistani manager Islahuddin Siddiqui said: "Frankly, I was not so optimistic before the game because we had to beat the world champions.

Pakistan's Yousaf celebrates his team's progression

"I just told the boys to go out there and play their best. They responded so well that I don't have words to describe their achievement.

"The Dutch could not score because we did not allow them to. God willing, we will go further now."

The Dutch looked a far cry from the side that holds the world, Olympic and Champions Trophy titles. They fumbled repeatedly before the Pakistani goal.

Teun de Nooijer, rated by many as the world's best player, squandered at least three chances while Stephen Veen missed twice, once before an open goal.

Fortunately for the Dutch, the British team beat Germany later in the day to allow them to progress at the expense of their continental rivals. They now play Australia in the semi-finals.

---

Australia 2-1 South Korea

Australia progressed into the men's semi-finals with a 2-1 win over South Korea.

The home nation, which took the bronze medal in Atlanta, needed only a draw to make it through to the last four.

But the Koreans still made the semis because Poland drew with India later on Tuesday.

South Korea finished level with India on points but went through because they beat them 2-0 earlier in the tournament. .

Australia and South Korea were locked 1-1 at half-time of a fast and furious match.

The Koreans, who finished ahead of Australia at the Champions Trophy in May, took the lead in the ninth minute when Song Seung-Tae scored with a dazzling reverse flick.

We have put the poor form behind us and are starting to play well again. We are focused on what we aim to do, and that is to reach the final

  Terry Walsh
Australian coach

After the Koreans wasted two penalty corners, the Australians struck with their second just before half-time.

"We have put the poor form behind us and are starting to play well again," said Australian coach Terry Walsh. "We are focused on what we aim to do, and that is to reach the final."

South Korean manager Kim Sang-Ryul said the Australians lifted their game in the second half to win.

"We matched them well in the first half, but you have to score goals to win," said Kim. "We missed many chances. The Australians were more desperate than us and it showed."

---

India 1-1 Poland

Poland grabbed an equaliser two minutes from time to send India crashing out of the semi-finals.

When Dilip Kumar Tirkey gave India a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute, they looked set for a semi-final berth at Korea's expense.

But there was one more twist left in a remarkable day.

In the first semi-final, three-time Olympic champions Pakistan will meet Korea, while the second semi pits the Netherlands against hosts Australia.

The semi-final winners go on to play for the gold medal on Saturday.